Multiple compressor control system

Abstract

At least one of a plurality of compressors connected to a fluid distribution system are loaded and/or unloaded based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a controller configured to selectively perform at least one of loading and unloading of at least one of a plurality of compressors to a fluid distribution system based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively perform at least one of loading and unloading based upon a mass rate change of fluid in the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively perform at least one of loading and unloading based upon a lead time for the at least one of loading and unloading the at least one of the plurality of compressors.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively load at least one of the plurality of compressors based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively load the at least one of the plurality of compressors based upon a minimum fluid distribution system pressure.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively unload the at least one of the plurality of compressors based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively load and unload the at least one of the plurality of compressors based upon a range of acceptable fluid distribution system pressures.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively unload the at least one of the plurality of compressors based upon the capacitance of the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to select the at least one of the plurality of compressors from the plurality of compressors for at least one of loading and unloading based upon a capacity of each of the plurality of compressors.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust a sampling period for sampling a mass rate of change in the fluid distribution system based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a fluid distribution system; and    a plurality of compressors, at least one of the plurality of compressors being configured to be selectively pneumatically connected and disconnected from the fluid distribution system in response to control signals from the controller.    
   
   
       12 . A processor readable medium comprising: 
 stored instructions to selectively perform at least one of loading and unloading of at least one of a plurality of compressors connected to a fluid distribution system based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.    
   
   
       13 . The processor readable medium of  claim 12  further comprising stored instructions to determine a floating mass rate change of fluid in the fluid distribution system and to selectively perform at least one of loading and unloading of at least one of the plurality of compressors connected to the fluid distribution system based upon the floating mass rate change.  
   
   
       14 . The processor readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the stored instructions to selectively perform at least one of loading and unloading is based upon a lead time for starting and loading the at least one of the plurality of compressors.  
   
   
       15 . The processor readable medium of  claim 1   1  further comprising stored instructions to selectively perform loading and unloading of at least one of the plurality of compressors additionally based upon a range of acceptable fluid distribution system pressures.  
   
   
       16 . A method comprising: 
 selectively performing at least one of loading and unloading of at least one of a plurality of compressors connected to a fluid distribution system based upon a capacitance of the fluid distribution system.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of loading and unloading of at least one of the plurality of compressors is based upon a mass rate of change of fluid in the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of loading and unloading of at least one of the plurality of compressors is based upon a lead time for starting and loading the at least one of the plurality of compressors.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of loading and unloading comprises selectively loading and unloading of at least one of the plurality of compressors based upon a range of acceptable fluid distribution system pressures.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising adjusting a sampling period based upon a mass rate of change of fluid in the fluid distribution system.